SDSU aims to maintain baseball momentum

San Diego State's baseball team which beat New Mexico to best the Mountain West conference, learned it will face UCLA in the regional championship. Aztecs head coach Tony Gwynn spoke to the media after watching the announcement.

San Diego State's baseball team which beat New Mexico to best the Mountain West conference, learned it will face UCLA in the regional championship. Aztecs head coach Tony Gwynn spoke to the media after watching the announcement.

“You have to throw, hit, catch and execute better than the other team to win, and that’s our main focus. Nothing changes because it’s a regional.”

France doesn’t believe the Aztecs’ lack of postseason experience puts them at a disadvantage.

“We have been playing this past week or so as if it was win or go home, which is basically playoff baseball,” he said.

France was referencing four straight elimination games the Aztecs played — and won — last week in Fresno to take the MWC title.

“That’s how we have to treat this regional,” he said. “If we do that, I don’t think experience will play a factor. I have faith in our guys, and I’m excited to see what we can do.”

France’s performance boosted his batting average to .313. He leads the team with five homers and has 35 RBIs, ranking him among the team leaders with second baseman Tim Zier (.346, 41 RBIs, 17 SB), first baseman Ryan Muno (.317, 4 HR, 44 RBIs) and Romanski (.299, 2 HR, 31 RBIs).

“It’s nice to finally have the bats going 1-9,” said France. “We have to keep it up if we want to continue to have success and keep playing.

“We’re going to see every team’s best guy, so we need to stay disciplined and stick to our plan and good things will happen.”